Although he knew Gu Jianing remembered him purely out of a doctor’s concern for a patient, it still made Li Tingxuan happy.
“Mm, thank you, Dr. Gu. I’ll pass it along.”
“That’s good.” Gu Jianing had nothing else to say and was about to turn and leave.
“Dr. Gu…” Just as they were about to pass each other, Li Tingxuan called out to her.
His gaze lingered on her delicate features, hesitating for a moment before he finally spoke. “Dr. Gu, I’m sorry about what Li Shuyao did to you before…”
It was only later, after the truth about the fake Li Shuyao came to light, that Li Tingxuan learned how, out of jealousy over Sheng Zexi marrying Gu Jianing, Li Shuyao had repeatedly targeted her.
Gu Jianing had been lucky—otherwise, she would have long since fallen victim to Li Shuyao’s schemes.
That imposter was truly malicious.
At first, he had thought that, having grown up together, there would at least be some sibling affection between them.
But later, he realized that if Li Shuyao had truly seen him as a brother and cared for him even a little, she wouldn’t have leaked the secrets of his mission.
That mission’s failure had left him with PTSD—and that was the best-case scenario. If not for sheer luck, he could have died.
So, since Li Shuyao had never felt any genuine affection for him as a brother, why should he hold onto any for her?
Gu Jianing hadn’t expected Li Tingxuan to apologize for Li Shuyao’s actions.
She shook her head. “That wasn’t your fault. You don’t need to apologize.”
In truth, the Li family was also a victim.
That Li Shuyao had been an imposter—Li Tingxuan’s real sister had died long ago.
So, once she learned that the fake Li Shuyao was from R Country, she stopped blaming Li Tingxuan for it.
“Ningning…”
Just then, Gu Jianing heard a familiar voice calling her.
She looked up and saw Sheng Zexi striding toward her.
Gu Jianing quickly responded, “Comrade Li, my husband is here to pick me up. I’ll be going now.”
“Alright.”
Li Tingxuan watched as Gu Jianing hurried toward Sheng Zexi with light, happy steps.
When he glanced up, his eyes met Sheng Zexi’s cold gaze—piercing, as if it could see straight through him in an instant.
For a brief moment, Li Tingxuan averted his eyes, feeling a pang of guilt. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Sheng Zexi had seen right through his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Sheng Zexi stared coldly at Li Tingxuan.
This man—his looks, his demeanor—wasn’t he just a superior version of Wen Zhuqing?
The very type Ningning had once liked.
And now, Ningning was talking to Li Tingxuan…
Though Sheng Zexi was certain Ningning’s heart belonged to him now, this Li Tingxuan clearly had ulterior motives.
“Brother Xi, what are you looking at? Let’s go home.” Gu Jianing’s voice pulled Sheng Zexi out of his thoughts.
Sheng Zexi took her hand and led her toward home, then asked casually, “You were talking to Li Tingxuan just now?”
“Mm, you know Li Tingxuan?”
“Of course I know him.” That was Li Tingxuan—the golden boy of their Beijing compound, the child every family compared theirs to.
Back in the day, whenever the old man at home scolded him, he’d hold Li Tingxuan up as the example, lamenting how Sheng Zexi fell short in every way and wasn’t as obedient.
Sheng Zexi had scoffed at that. In modern terms, he simply refused to be gaslit.
He was confident in himself—he liked who he was.
He always pushed himself to improve, but he never compared himself to others.
But now…
At this moment, standing before Gu Jianing, Sheng Zexi felt the first flicker of comparison in his heart.
If—just if—he and Li Tingxuan had both gone to propose to Ningning back then, who would she have chosen? Him or Li Tingxuan?
For the first time, Sheng Zexi wasn’t sure. He even felt a twinge of insecurity.
Love really could make a person doubt themselves.
“What’s wrong with you?” Gu Jianing noticed his unusual mood and asked.
“What were you and Li Tingxuan talking about just now?” Sheng Zexi blurted out.
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
He knew he shouldn’t have asked, especially in that tone—it sounded almost accusatory.
Gu Jianing, however, didn’t overthink it. She answered honestly, recounting the entire conversation she’d just had with Li Tingxuan.
Sheng Zexi knew they hadn’t said anything inappropriate, but still…
Gu Jianing could tell something was off, but she didn’t press him right away.
The rest of the way home, the two walked in silence.
Sheng Zexi’s heart was in turmoil.
Damn it, damn it. Is Ningning mad at me?
Sheng Zexi, why can’t you keep your cool?
By the time they got home, after greeting his grandmother, Sheng Zexi immediately pulled Gu Jianing into their room.
The moment the door closed, he wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“I’m sorry.”
Before Gu Jianing could speak, his muffled apology reached her ears, his voice pressed against her shoulder.
Gu Jianing’s eyes flickered with amusement. “Oh? Why are you apologizing?”
“I shouldn’t have questioned you like that. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have…”
The man stammered before finally forcing out two words: “been jealous.”
Gu Jianing suddenly understood—so he was jealous.
Thinking of Li Tingxuan’s type and comparing it to Wen Zhuqing’s appearance, she immediately grasped the situation.
“Ningning, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten jealous.”
“I just think Li Tingxuan has ulterior motives.”
“Couldn’t he just stay peacefully in the Beijing Military District? Why did he have to transfer to the Northwest Military District?”
“And then he deliberately talked to you—he’s definitely up to no good.”
“Ningning, that guy isn’t as good as he seems. Don’t be fooled by his gentle, refined appearance. Who knows what he’s really like?”
Listening to his rant, Gu Jianing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I was the one who spoke to him first. He probably doesn’t have any intentions like that.”
She tried to explain. From what she could tell, Li Tingxuan’s gaze hadn’t held any obvious emotions.
So, it probably wasn’t as Brother Xi was imagining.
“You’re overthinking it.”
Sheng Zexi: I’m not overthinking it. This is a man’s instinct when facing a rival.
But since Gu Jianing said so, he didn’t push further.
Instead, he just held her, acting pitiful—like a big, wronged dog who had suffered some great injustice outside and was now coming home to seek comfort from its owner.
If anyone in the military district saw Sheng Zexi like this, their jaws would drop.
Deputy Regimental Commander Sheng, is this really you—the infamous “Jade-Faced Yama”?
Sheng Zexi: What Jade-Faced Yama? I just want to hug my wife. I just want my wife to spoil me more and not get distracted by flashy outsiders.
His behavior truly left Gu Jianing both amused and exasperated.
In truth, she hadn’t been angry at all.
The reason she’d stayed quiet on the way back was simply because she felt it wasn’t the right place to talk and wanted to wait until they got home.
But before she could say anything, he’d already poured out all these words—and even apologized.
Gu Jianing: Well, since you apologized… I’ll graciously accept it?
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